Shearing or bending presses



Nov. 5, 1963 R. F. GIORDANO SHEARING OR BENDING PRESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1961 Wsvm R. F. GIORDANO 3,109,476

SHEARING OR BENDING PRESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 5, 1963 Filed April 25, 1961 United States Patent Ofiice 3 ,109,476 Patented Nov. 5, 1963 3,109,476 SHEARING R BENDING PRESSES Roger Francois Giordano, 15 Rue Pierre fiurie, Deuil-ladiarre, Seine-chime, France Filed Apr. 25, 1961, Ser. No. 105,343 Claims priority, application France May 24, 1960 9 Claims. (Cl. 153-21) This invention is concerned with bending or shearing machines of the kind in which bending or shearing is efiected by a pair of tool carrying aprons moving towards one another or by moving one apron towards the other.

For normal use of a bending press, the upper tool, known as the male die or inverted-V die, must be capable of being easily and accurately aligned with the lower tool, known as the female die or V die. For this purpose there are currently used arrangements employing lateral adjustment by clamping screws, and which require adjustment both in front of and behind the machine.

The present invention aims to provide a simpler construction which obviates this disadvantage.

According to the invention the bending or shearing tool associated with each apron is fixed to a bedplate on the apron through the intermediary of a number of identical T-shaped spacers bolted to the bedplate, and the spacers are so arranged as to define a space between neighbouring spacers in which is located a bolt for securing the tool, the head of which bolt bears on the underside of the arms of the T.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view :of part of a shearing or bending press of the kind shown in French Patent No. 1,256,680 and to which the invention is applied;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on the line IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded front view of the lower tool of the same press and its fixing means;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, lower and upper tools 3 and 5 respectively are fixed to the press members of the machine, shown to be aprons 1a and 1c of the machine 1 through the intermediary of spacer elements and bcdplates and will hereinafter be described.

Considering first the lower tool 3, that tool bears on the apron 1c through the intermediary of a plurality of spacer elements 42 and a bedplate 44. The spacer elements 42 are fixed on the bedplate 44 by bolts 43 which extend through the holes 44a in the bedplate 44 and which penetrate into tapped holes 42b in the spacer elements 42. In this position, the spacer elements are spaced apart and leave between them a distance a. The elements are generally T shaped and their arms 42a form a forwardly and rearwardly open slot b.

The tool 3 is fixed to the spacer elements 42 by means of bolts 40 which are placed in the slots b. These bolts 40 bear by means of washers 41 on horizontal abutment faces on the arms 42a of the elements 42, pass through the space a and penetrate into tapped holes 3a in the tool 3. The bolts 4% are thus so arranged that they can be tightened even when the assembly 44, 42 and 3 is in position on the apron 1c.

The arrangement for the upper tool 5 is similar. A bedplate 50, corresponding to the bedplate 44, is fixed by bolts 51 to apron la. Spacer elements 52 have arms 52a like the corresponding elements 42 and are fixed to the bedplate 50 by bolts 53. However, the cross-section of the elements 52 perpendicularly to the working plane (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in FIGURE 1) is different in shape from that of the elements 42 because, whereas the cross-section of elements 42 is rectangular, the cross-section of the elements 52 is roughly L shaped (FIGURE 2).

The upper tool 5, is fixed to the elements 52 by bolts 54, which pass between the arms 52a of the elements 52, bear on horizontal abutment faces on the arms 52a by means of washers 55, and screw into tapped holes 5a in the tool 5. It should be noted that there is a space c between elements 52 corresponding to the spaces a and also that there are slots d similar to the slots b.

In order to ensure that the tools 3 and 5 are strictly in alignment the bolts 54 of the upper tool 5 are released, the bolts are slid through the spaces 0 carrying the tool 5 with them until the tool is approximately in the correct position and .the bolts are then tightened. Thereafter the lower tool 3 is freed from the apron 1c and the aprons 142 and 1c are made to approach one another so that the tools are closed together and lower tool 3 can be brought into perfect alignment with the upper tool 5 while bolts 46 are loosened and washers 41 slide on the abutment faces of adjacent spacer elements. The bolts 40 of the lower tool 3 are then tightened.

As will be apparent, it is particularly simple both to adjust the tools 3 and 5 and to mount them initially with the result that the cost of an operation on the machine is low and also that the quality of work produced is high.

The fact that identical elements 42, are used for the lower tool and identical elements 52 are used for the upper tool makes it possible, by varying the number thereof, to use the same elements on presses of different lengths. Consequently, prime costs can be further reduced by manufacture in larger series, the reduction of stocks, lower administrative costs and so on.

The ability to position the tools 3 and 5 from the front of the machines reduces the time required for setting the tools, and furthermore, it is not possible to impair alignment, as is possible with existing mountings when the screw jacks at the front have to be locked separately from those at the rear.

The slotted ends of the elements 42 and 52 provide grooves a and c permitting rapid and simple locking of the tools 3 and 5 from below in the case of the female die 3 and from above in the case of the male die 5.

The male die 5 and female die 3 are brought into position opposite one another with the greatest case from the front of the press.

I claim:

1. In a press, in combination, a pair of cooperating elongated press members substantially aligned in a first plane and extending in longitudinal direction substan tially in said first plane, at least one of said press members being movable in said plane toward the other press member; a plurality of spacer members secured to at least one of said press members along the length of the same, each of said spacer members having at least one abutment face, the abutment faces of adjacent members being located in a common second plane extending transverse to said first plane; a first elongated tool located in and extending in longitudinal direction substantially in said first plane and abutting said spacer members; a second elongated tool located in and extending in longitudinal direction substantially in said first plane and secured to the other press member; and adjustable connector means having portions bearing against said abutment faces of said adjacent spacer members, said con nector means engaging said first tool for fixedly securing the same to said spacer members and to said press member, said portions being slidable on said abutment faces in said common plane when said connector means is loosened so that said first tool with said connector means can be adjusted parallel to itself in a direction transverse to said first plane until said first and second tools are exactly aligned in said first plane.

2. In a press, in combination, a pair of cooperating elongated press members substantially aligned in a first plane, at least one of said press members being movable in said plane toward the other press member; a plurality of spacer members secured to at least one of said press members along the length of the same, each spacer member having at least one abutment face, the abutment faces of adjacent spacer members being located in a common second plane extending transverse to said first plane; a first elongated tool located in said first plane and abutting said spacer members; a second elongated tool located in saidfirst plane and secured to the other press member; and bolt means located between each pair of adjacent spacer members and having a portion bearing against said abutment faces of said adjacent spacer members, said bolt means threadedly engaging said first tool for fixedly securing the same to said spacer members and to said one press member, said portion being slidable on said abutment faces in said common plane when said bolt means is loosened so that said first tool with said bolt means can be adjusted in a direction transverse to said first plane until said first and second tools are exactly aligned in said first plane.

3. In a press, in combination, a pair of cooperating elongated press members substantially aligned in a first plane, at least one of said press members being movable in said plane toward the other press member; a plurality of T-shaped spacer members secured to at least one of said press members spaced from each other along the length of the same, each spacer member having a pair of abutment faces, the abutment faces of adjacent spacer members being located in a common second plane extending transverse to said first plane; a first elongated tool located in said first plane and abutting said spacer members; a second elongated tool located in said first plane and secured to the other press member; and bolt means located between each pair of adjacent spacer members and having a head portion bearing against said abutment faces of said adjacent spacer members, said bolt means having a shank portion passing between adjacent spacer members and threadedly engaging said first tool for fixedly securing the same to said spacer members and to said one press member, said head portion being slidable on said abutment faces in said .common plane when said bolt means is loosened so that said first tool with said bolt means can be adjusted in a direction transverse to said first plane until said first and second tools are exactly aligned in said first plane,

4. In a press, in combination, a pair of cooperating elongated press members substantially aligned in a first plane, at least one of said press members being movable in said plane toward the other press member; a plurality of spacer members secured to each of said press members along the length of the same, each spacer member having at least one abutment face, the abutment faces of adjacent spacer members being located in a common second plane extending transverse to said first plane; an elongated tool associated with each of said press members and abutting the spacer members which are secured to the respective press member; and bolt means located between each pair of adjacent spacer members and having a portion bearing against said abutment faces of said adjacent spacer members, said bolt'means threadedly engaging the respective tool for fixedly securing the same to said spacer members and to the respective press member, said portion being slidable on said abutment faces in said common plane when said bolt means is loosened so that said tools with said bolt means can be adjusted in a direction transverse to said first plane until said tools are exactly aligned in said first plane.

5. In a press, in combination, a pair of cooperating elongated press members substantially aligned in a first plane, at least one of said press members being movable in said plane toward the other press member; a plurality of T-shaped spacer members secured to each of said press members spaced from each other along the length of the same, each spacer member having a pair of abutment faces, the abutment faces of adjacent spacer members being located in a common second plane extending transverse to said first plane; an elongated tool associated with each of said press members and abutting the spacer members which are secured to the respective press member; and bolt means located between each pair of adjacent spacer members and having a head portion bearing against said abutment faces of said adjacent spacer members, said bolt means having a shank portion passing between adjacent spacer members and engaging the respective tool for fixedly securing the same to said spacer members and to the respective press member, said head portion being slidable on said abutment faces in said common plane when said bolt means is loosened so that said tools with said bolt means can be adjusted in a direction transverse to said first plane until said tools are exactly aligned in said first plane.

6. A press as set forth in claim 5 wherein one of said tools is a female tool, and the other tool is a male tool having a longitudinal edge located in said first plane.

7. In a press, in combination, a pair of cooperating elongated press members substantially aligned in a first plane, at least one of said press members being movable in said plane toward the other press member; a bedplate secured to each press member; threaded means passing through each bedplate; a plurality of T-shaped spacer members secured by said thread-ed means to each of said bedplates spaced from each other along the length of the same, each spacer member having a pair of abutment faces, the abutment faces of all spacer members being located in a common second plane extending transverse to said first plane; an elongated tool associated with each of said press members and abutting the spacer members which are secured to the respective press member; and bolt means located between each pair of adjacent spacer members and having a head portion bearing against said abutment faces of said adjacent spacer members, said bolt means having a shank portion passing between adjacent spacer members and threadedly engaging the respective tool for fixedly securing the same to said spacer members and to the respective press member, said head portion being slidable on said abutment faces in said common plane when said bolt means is loosened so that said tools with said bolt means can be adjusted in a direction transverse to said first plane until said tools are exactly aligned in said first plane.

8. A press as set forth in claim 7 wherein one of said bedplates is vertical and the corresponding threaded means are horizontal, wherein the other bedplate is horizontal and the corresponding threaded means are vertical, and wherein said spacer members secured to said one bedplate have a stepped cross section with a recessed shoulder a to receive said one bedplate.

9. In a press, in combination, a pair of cooperating elongated press members substantially aligned in a first plane, at least one of said press members being movable in said plane toward the other press member; a plurality of spacer members secured to at least one of said press members along the length of the same, each spacer member having at least one abutment face, the abutment faces of adjacent spacer members being located in a common.

second plane extending transverse to said first plane; a first elongated tool located in said first plane and abutting said spacer members; a second elongated tool located in said first plane and secured to the other press member; and

adjustable connector means having a part bearing against said abutment faces of said adjacent spacer members, said connector means engaging said first tool for fixedly securing the same to said spacer members and to said one press member, said part being slid-able on said abutment faces in said common plane When said connector means is loosened so that said first tool with said connector means can be adjusted in a direction transverse to said first plane until said first and second tools are exactly aligned in said first plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,624 Rehbein Dec. 5, 1916 5 1,416,707 Hadaway May 23, 1922 2,756,822 Jones July 31, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Cincinnati Press Brake Dies, Catalog D-3, pp. 14, 15, The Cincinnati Shaper Company, Cincinnati, Ohio; recd. 10 in Div. Oct. 10, 1960. 

1. IN A PRESS, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF COOPERATING ELONGATED PRESS MEMBERS SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED IN A FIRST PLANE AND EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID FIRST PLANE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PRESS MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE IN SAID PLANE TOWARD THE OTHER PRESS MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF SPACER MEMBERS SECURED TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PRESS MEMBERS ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE SAME, EACH OF SAID SPACER MEMBERS HAVING AT LEAST ONE ABUTMENT FACE, THE ABUTMENT FACES OF ADJACENT MEMBERS BEING LOCATED IN A COMMON SECOND PLANE EXTENDING TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST PLANE; A FIRST ELONGATED TOOL LOCATED IN AND EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID FIRST PLANE AND ABUTTING SAID SPACER MEMBERS; A SECOND ELONGATED TOOL LOCATED IN AND EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID FIRST PLANE AND SECURED TO THE OTHER PRESS MEMBER; AND ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR MEANS HAVING PORTIONS BEARING AGAINST SAID ABUTMENT FACES OF SAID ADJACENT SPACER MEMBERS, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS ENGAGING SAID FIRST TOOL FOR FIXEDLY SECURING THE SAME TO SAID SPACER MEMBERS AND TO SAID PRESS MEMBER, SAID PORTIONS BEING SLIDABLE ON SAID ABUTMENT FACES IN SAID COMMON PLANE WHEN SAID CONNECTOR MEANS IS LOOSENED SO THAT SAID FIRST TOOL WITH SAID CONNECTOR MEANS CAN BE ADJUSTED PARALLEL TO ITSELF IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST PLANE UNTIL SAID FIRST AND SECOND TOOLS ARE EXACTLY ALIGNED IN SAID FIRST PLANE. 